Terminal device and charging control method

ABSTRACT

A terminal device including a solar battery panel; a panel temperature-detection unit configured to detect a temperature measured near the solar battery panel; a power generation-state determination unit configured to detect an illuminance measured near the solar battery panel; a battery temperature-detection unit configured to detect a temperature measured near a secondary battery charged through power generated through the solar battery panel; a control unit configured to estimate a change in the temperature detected through the battery temperature-detection unit based on the temperature detected through the panel temperature-detection unit and the illuminance obtained through the power generation-state determination unit, and determine a remaining time when the estimated temperature measured near the secondary battery reaches a temperature at which the charging of the secondary battery is stopped; and a notification unit configured to provide notification about the remaining time determined through the control unit.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims priority under 35 U.S.C.§119(e) to Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/355,742, filed Jun. 17,2010, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present specification relates to a terminal device that can beapplied for a mobile phone-terminal device and a charging control methodapplied for the terminal device, and particularly relates to a chargingcontrol technology applied for a device provided with a solar battery.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the field of terminal devices including a secondary battery, such asmobile phone-terminal devices, terminal devices provided with a solarbattery panel have been put to practical use. When the terminal deviceprovided with the solar battery panel is left at a place which isilluminated enough to ensure an appropriate amount of power generatedthrough the solar battery panel, the secondary battery provided in theterminal device is charged. Therefore, the battery duration of theterminal device is increased, for example.

A charger of a secondary battery provided with a solar battery has beendisclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.06-46536. According to Japanese Unexamined Patent ApplicationPublication No. 06-46536, each of the temperature of the secondarybattery and that of the solar battery (the environmental temperature) isdetected and charging is stopped when the value of the differencebetween the secondary battery temperature and the solar batterytemperature reaches a predetermined temperature. The technologydisclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.06-46536 allows for preventing the secondary battery being charged in ahigh-temperature state undesirable for the characteristics of thesecondary battery.

When a solar battery panel is mounted on a terminal device such as amobile phone-terminal device, the solar battery panel should be chargedin the following use state. Namely, the terminal device is usuallyplaced near a window irradiated with the sunlight so that the solarbattery panel is irradiated with the sunlight as much as possible.

However, when the terminal device is directly irradiated with thesunlight, the temperature of the terminal device itself is increased,which may cause problems. More specifically, the secondary batteryand/or the circuit components that are provided in the terminal devicemay be deteriorated.

When a battery of which temperature should be detected during thecharging is used as the secondary battery, control is performed to stopthe charging when the detected secondary battery temperature reaches thecharging stop temperature so that the charging is not performed in thehigh-temperature state. The battery of which temperature should bedetected during the charging includes a lithium-ion storage battery, anickel metal hydride-storage battery, and so forth.

Thus, the charging itself is stopped based on the temperature to ensurethe safety of the secondary battery. However, when the terminal deviceitself is left at a place irradiated with the sunlight, the temperatureof the terminal device itself is kept high, which may deteriorate thesecondary battery and/or other circuit components that are provided inthe terminal device, which is hardly appropriate for the terminaldevice.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Accordingly, the present specification has been made to solve a problemoccurring when a terminal device provided with a solar battery panel ischarged.

According to an embodiment, a terminal device is provided comprising: asolar battery panel; a panel temperature-detection unit configured todetect a temperature measured near the solar battery panel; a powergeneration-state determination unit configured to detect an illuminancemeasured near the solar battery panel; a battery temperature-detectionunit configured to detect a temperature measured near a secondarybattery charged through power generated through the solar battery panel;a control unit configured to estimate a change in the temperaturedetected through the battery temperature-detection unit based on thetemperature detected through the panel temperature-detection unit andthe illuminance obtained through the power generation-statedetermination unit, and determine a remaining time when the estimatedtemperature measured near the secondary battery reaches a temperature atwhich the charging of the secondary battery is stopped; and anotification unit configured to provide notification about the remainingtime determined through the control unit.

According to another embodiment, a method is provided that isimplemented on a terminal device having a solar battery panel and asecondary battery that is charged through power generated through thesolar battery panel, the method comprising: detecting a temperaturemeasured near the solar battery panel; detecting an illuminance measurednear the solar battery panel; detecting a temperature measured near thesecondary battery; estimating a change in the temperature measured nearthe secondary battery based on the temperature measured near the solarbattery panel and the illuminance measured near the solar battery paneland determining a remaining time when the estimated temperature measurednear the secondary battery reaches a temperature at which the chargingof the secondary battery is stopped; and providing a notification aboutthe determined remaining time.

According to another embodiment, a computer readable storage medium isprovided that stores a program which, when executed by a terminal devicehaving a solar battery panel and a secondary battery that is chargedthrough power generated through the solar battery panel, causes theterminal device to perform a method comprising: detecting a temperaturemeasured near the solar battery panel; detecting an illuminance measurednear the solar battery panel; detecting a temperature measured near thesecondary battery; estimating a change in the temperature measured nearthe secondary battery based on the temperature measured near the solarbattery panel and the illuminance measured near the solar battery paneland determining a remaining time when the estimated temperature measurednear the secondary battery reaches a temperature at which the chargingof the secondary battery is stopped; and providing a notification aboutthe determined remaining time.

The above-described configuration allows for a user of the terminaldevice to perceive an estimated time taken before the charging isstopped through the notification about the time when the temperature atwhich the charging of the secondary battery is stopped is attained. Thenotification about the time when the temperature at which the chargingis stopped is attained can be performed by displaying data and/oroutputting voice data, for example.

According to the embodiments described herein, the user of the terminaldevice can perceive an estimated time taken before the charging isstopped. Therefore, the user can perceive an estimated time for thesolar irradiation of the terminal device. At the notified time,therefore, the user can move the terminal device to a place that doesnot get the sunlight, so as to prevent the terminal device from beingkept in a high-temperature state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary terminal deviceaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of an exemplary terminal deviceaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary charging control performedthrough a terminal device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary processing performed inparallel with the charging control performed through a terminal deviceaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a principle diagram illustrating an exemplary relationshipbetween a solar battery panel-temperature and a secondarybattery-temperature according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6A is a characteristic diagram illustrating an specific examplerelationship between a solar battery panel temperature, a secondarybattery temperature, and a charging current according to an embodiment;and

FIG. 6B is a different characteristic diagram illustrating an specificexample relationship between a solar battery panel temperature, asecondary battery temperature, and a charging current according to anembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described in the following order withreference to the attached drawings.

1. Exemplary configuration of Terminal device (FIGS. 1 and 2)

2. Exemplary processing procedures that are performed during Chargingperformed through Solar battery in Terminal device (FIGS. 3 and 4)

3. Specific examples that are observed during Charging performed throughSolar battery in Terminal device (FIGS. 5, and 6A and 6B)

4. Example modifications

[1. Exemplary Configuration of Terminal Device]

First, an exemplary configuration of a terminal device according to anembodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

In the above-described embodiment, the exemplary configuration is usedfor a mobile phone-terminal device. That is to say, as illustrated inFIG. 2, a terminal device 10, including a first cabinet 10 a and asecond cabinet 10 b that are openably/closably connected to each otherthrough a connection part 10 c, is attained. A display panel, operationkeys, and so forth are provided on the inner faces (not shown) of theterminal device 10, where the inner faces are inwardly opposed to eachother as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a solar battery panel 17 is providedon the outer face of the first cabinet 10 a of the terminal device 10 tocharge a secondary battery provided in the terminal device 10 throughthe solar battery panel 17.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a sub-display unit 12 a and alight-emitting diode 19 are provided on the face of the terminal device10, where the solar battery panel 17 is provided on the face. Thesub-display unit 12 a displays data and the light-emitting diode 19lights up and/or flashes on and off so that a user is notified ofvarious types of information. The sub-display unit 12 a can display textdata, graphic data, and so forth.

Further, a detection window of an illuminance sensor 25 is providedbeside the solar battery panel 17 to detect the illuminance of lightwith which the solar battery panel 17 is irradiated.

Next, the internal configuration of the terminal device 10 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 1. The terminal device 10 includes acontrol unit 11 configured to control the operations of each ofcomponents. That is to say, the control unit 11 controls communicationsthat are performed through a communication circuit 3 configured toperform radio communications that are appropriate for the terminaldevice 10 provided as a radio phone terminal. The control unit 11transmits voice data acquired through the radio communications that areperformed through the communication circuit 13 to a voice processingunit 14, and makes a speaker 15 connected to the voice processing unit14 externally transmit the voice data. Further, the control unit 11makes the voice processing unit 14 generate voice data based on a voicepicked up through a microphone 16, and makes the communication circuit13 transmit the voice data by radio.

Further, the display unit 12 and/or the sub-display unit 12 a displaysvarious types of information appropriate for the terminal device 10provided as the radio phone terminal. For example, the display unit 12and/or the sub-display unit 12 a displays the data of a phone number,transmitted electronic mail, electronic mail for transmission, a webpage, and so forth. The display unit 12 and/or the sub-display unit 12 aperforms the above-described display to notify the user of, for example,the time taken to charge the solar battery panel 17 that will bedescribed later when information about the charging time is displayed astext data and/or graphic data.

The notification processing can also be performed through thelight-emitting diode 19. That is to say, as illustrated in FIG. 2, theabove-described configuration allows for notifying the user of someinformation by making the light-emitting diode 19 provided on thesurface of the cabinet 10 a of the terminal device 10 light up and/orflash on and off, for example.

The above-described terminal device 10 includes a secondary battery 18and is operated by direct-current low-voltage power transmitted from apower unit 22 connected to the secondary battery 18. The secondarybattery 18 includes, for example, a lithium-ion storage battery. Thetemperature of the secondary battery 18 is detected through a batterytemperature-detection sensor 23 which is a battery temperature detectionunit provided near the place where the secondary battery 18 is provided.The battery temperature-detection sensor 23 includes a thermistor whichis an element of which resistance is changed in accordance with atemperature, for example. Then, the control unit 11 determines data ofthe secondary battery temperature detected through the batterytemperature-detection sensor 23 to perform control at the charging time.

The secondary battery 18 is charged through the transmission of acharging current, which is performed through the charge processing unit21 configured to transmit the charge current used to charge thesecondary battery 18 based on an instruction transmitted from thecontrol unit 11 so that the secondary battery 18 is charged.

The charge processing unit 21 charges the secondary battery 18 by usingthe power supply of an external power supply section such as an ACadaptor (not shown) when the external power supply section is connectedto the secondary battery 18 and/or charges the secondary battery 18 byusing power generated through the solar battery panel 17.

When charging the secondary battery 18 by using the power generatedthrough the solar battery panel 17, the charge processing unit 21performs processing such as suspending the charging under the control ofthe control unit 11. A panel temperature-detection temperature sensor 24provided as a solar battery panel-temperature detection unit is arrangednear the place where the solar battery panel 17 is provided so that thetemperature of the solar battery panel 17 is detected. The paneltemperature-detection temperature sensor 24 includes, for example, athermistor and the control unit 11 determines data of the detectedtemperature.

An illuminance sensor 25 configured to detect the illuminance of lightwith which the solar battery panel 17 is irradiated is provided and thecontrol unit 11 determines data of the detection performed through theilluminance sensor 25. The illuminance sensor 25 functions as a powergeneration-state determination unit of the solar battery panel 17. Thecontrol unit 11 calculates the amount of power generated through thesolar battery panel 17 based on the illuminance of the irradiationlight, the illuminance being detected through the illuminance sensor 25,and calculates data appropriate to perform the charging control.

[2. Exemplary Processing Procedures that are Performed During ChargingPerformed Through Solar Battery in Terminal Device]

Next, exemplary processing procedures that are performed to charge thesecondary battery 18 through the use of the solar battery panel 17 inthe terminal device of the above-described embodiment will be describedwith reference to flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4.

First, for charging the secondary battery 18, the control unit 11determines the temperature detected through the batterytemperature-detection sensor 23 and performs control, as illustrated inthe flowchart of FIG. 3. Control processing procedures that areillustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 3 are performed either when thesecondary battery 18 is charged through the solar battery panel 17 orwhen the secondary battery 18 is charged through the power transmissionperformed by an external power source.

That is to say, while the secondary battery 18 is charged, the controlunit 11 measures the temperature detected through the batterytemperature-detection sensor 23 at step S11 as occasion arises, anddetermines whether or not the detected temperature exceeds a temperatureT1 at which the charging should be stopped at step S12, as illustratedin the flowchart of FIG. 3. The temperature T1 is set to the highest ofvalues falling within a range where the secondary battery 18 can besafely charged. Actually, however, the temperature T1 is set to a valueadequately lower than the highest value to allow some leeway so that theterminal device 10 is not jeopardized immediately even though thedetected temperature exceeds the temperature T1.

When it is determined that the detected temperature exceeds thetemperature T1 at step S12, the supply of charging currents to thesecondary battery 18 is stopped under the control of the control unit11, so that the charging is stopped. When the charging is stopped, thedisplay unit 12 and/or the sub-display unit 12 a displays text dataand/or graphic data to notify the user that the charging had beenstopped for the high temperature at step S13. It may be configured thatdata of an instruction is transmitted to the voice processing unit 14 tonotify the user that the charging had been stopped through a synthesizedvoice emitted from a speaker 15. Otherwise, a simple warning beep may betemporarily emitted.

When the detected temperature does not exceed the temperature T1 at stepS12, the control unit 11 temporarily stops the measurement processingand waits until the next time the temperature measurement is performedat step S11. The temperature measurement corresponding to step S11 isperformed constantly during the charging in a relatively short cycle of,for example, several seconds to several tens of seconds.

During the charging performed through the solar battery panel 17, thecontrol unit 11 performs control processing procedures that areillustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 4.

That is to say, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the control unit 11 determinesthe temperature detected through the panel temperature-detectiontemperature sensor 24 and the illuminance detected through theilluminance sensor 25 at step S21. Then, the control unit 11 acquiresdata of the time taken before the charging is stopped based on thedetected temperature and illuminance at step S22. The data of the timetaken before the charging is stopped is acquired with reference to dataof a table illustrating the correspondence between the temperature andthe illuminance, for example. An example of the correspondence tabledata will be described later.

Otherwise, a calculation formula of some kind may be prepared, and thecurrent temperature and illuminance are substituted into theabove-described calculation formula to calculate the time taken beforethe charging is stopped.

The time taken before the charging is stopped, which is acquired at stepS22, is a time measured from the start point corresponding to thecurrent temperature detected through the panel temperature-detectiontemperature sensor 24 to the time when the detected temperature reachesthe charging stop temperature T1 in the case where the solar batterypanel 17 is kept being irradiated with the sunlight at the currentilluminance.

When acquiring the time taken before the charging is stopped at stepS22, the current residual charge amount of the secondary battery 18 isalso determined. When the time taken before the secondary battery 18seems to be fully charged is shorter than that taken before thetemperature T1 obtained based on the temperature and the illuminance isattained, the time taken before the charging is stopped is determined tobe the time taken before the secondary battery 18 seems to be fullycharged.

When the time taken before the charging is stopped is acquired at stepS22, the user is notified of the acquired time at step S23. For example,the user is notified of the acquired time by making the sub-display unit12 a illustrated in FIG. 2 display the acquired time as numerical and/ortext data. More specifically, the sub-display unit 12 a displays datashown as “xx minutes till the completion of charging”. Otherwise, whenthe first cabinet 10 a and the second cabinet 10 b that are illustratedin FIG. 2 are opened, the same display may be performed through an innerdisplay unit 12 (not shown). The above-described display may beperformed continually during the charging or may be performed only forseveral tens of seconds to a minute or around. Further, thelight-emitting diode 19 may flash on and off to provide notification.

Still further, the speaker 15 may emit the voice data “XX minutes tillthe completion of charging” to notify the user of the time. However,when it is determined that the charging stop temperature is notattained, the above-described notification processing is not performedas described later.

After the above-described notification processing is performed (or whenthe above-described notification processing is not performed at stepS23), the terminal device 10 waits for a predetermined time period atstep S24. After that, it is determined whether or not the chargingperformed through the solar battery panel 17 is continued at step S25.In the above-described embodiment, the terminal device 10 waits for fiveminutes at step S24. When the charging performed through the solarbattery panel 17 is continued, the processing returns to step S21, andthe processing corresponding to steps S21 to S24 is performed again.Therefore, the time notified at step S23 becomes shorter each time thenotification processing is renewed.

When it is determined that the charging performed through the solarbattery panel 17 is stopped at step S25, the processing illustrated inthe flowchart of FIG. 4 is finished.

Here, Table 1 illustrates the example of the table data indicating thecorrespondence between the temperature and illuminance of the solarbattery panel 24, the correspondence being determined at step S22 shownin the flowchart of FIG. 4.

TABLE 1 illuminance 0~ 10000~ 30000~ 50000~ 80000~ 10000 Lux 30000 Lux50000 Lux 80000 Lux 100000 Lux 100000 Lux~ charging 10° C. or less notnot not not not 150 min  start-time reaches reaches reaches reachesreaches temperature stop temp stop temp stop temp stop temp stop temp10-20° C. not not not not 150 min  120 min  reaches reaches reachesreaches stop temp stop temp stop temp stop temp 20-30° C. not not not150 min  120 min  90 min reaches reaches reaches stop temp stop tempstop temp 30-40° C. not not 150 min  120 min  90 min 60 min reachesreaches stop temp stop temp 40-50° C. not 120 min 90 min 60 min 45 min30 min reaches stop temp 50-50° C. 60 min  50 min 40 min 30 min 20 min10 min

Each of the charging start-time temperatures that are shown in thevertical direction at the left end of Table 1 is the temperaturedetected through the panel temperature-detection temperature sensor 24,and each of illuminances that are shown in the horizontal direction isthe illuminance detected through the illuminance sensor 25.

As illustrated in Table 1, when the current temperature detected throughthe panel temperature detection-temperature sensor 24 falls within therange of from 40° C. to 50° C. and the illuminance falls within therange of from 10000 lux to 30000 lux, for example, it is determined thatthe detected temperature reaches the charging stop temperature in 120minutes or around.

Further, when the current temperature detected through the paneltemperature detection-temperature sensor 24 falls within the range offrom 40° C. to 50° C. and the illuminance falls within the range of from30000 lux to 50000 lux, for example, it is determined that the detectedtemperature reaches the charging stop temperature in 90 minutes oraround.

In the example shown in Table 1, the time taken before the detectedtemperature reaches the charging stop temperature is reduced to aminimum when the illuminance is at least 100000 lux and the solarbattery panel-temperature is at least 50° C. In that case, it isdetermined that the detected temperature reaches the charging stoptemperature in 10 minutes or around.

Further, when the current illuminance and temperature are low, it isdetermined that the detected temperature would not reach the chargingstop temperature even though the charging is performed for hours. Forexample, when the current temperature detected through the paneltemperature detection-temperature sensor 24 falls within the range offrom 40° C. to 50° C. and the illuminance is 10000 lux or less, it isdetermined that the detected temperature does not reach the chargingstop temperature even though the charging is performed for hours.

Here, each of the times that are shown in Table 1 is an exemplary time.The temperatures and the illuminances may be determined more closely toobtain the time taken before the detected temperature reaches thecharging stop temperature in finer steps.

[3. Specific Examples that are Observed During Charging PerformedThrough Solar Battery in Terminal Device]

Here, an example where the temperature observed during chargingperformed through the solar battery of the terminal device is increasedwill be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 5 illustrates the relationship between a solar battery paneltemperature Tx and a secondary battery temperature Ty. In the terminaldevice 10, the solar battery panel 17 and the secondary battery 18 areprovided in the cabinet 10 a and 10 b that are connected to each other,as illustrated in FIG. 2. Therefore, when the temperature Tx of thesolar battery panel 17 provided on the face of the cabinet is increased,the temperature Ty of the secondary battery 18 provided in the terminaldevice 10 is also increased even though the increase in the temperatureTy lags behind that in the temperature Tx to a degree.

FIG. 5 exemplarily illustrates the case where a time Ta elapsed beforethe solar battery panel temperature Tx increases from the charging starttemperature and reaches the charging stop temperature. In that case,when the solar battery is kept being irradiated with the sunlight in analmost steady state under the above-described conditions until a time Tbfurther elapses, the temperature Ty of the secondary battery 18 reachesthe charging stop temperature. The delay time Tb is a time period of 15minutes, for example. Consequently, each of the times that areillustrated in Table 1 is the sum of the time Ta and the time Tb.

Each of FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrates the relationship between the solarbattery temperature Tx, the secondary battery temperature Ty, and acharging current Ia transmitted to the secondary battery that areobserved in the case where the charging is actually performed throughthe solar battery.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate individual examples and the temperature atwhich the charging of the secondary battery is stopped is set to 58° C.

In an example illustrated FIG. 6A, the solar battery panel 17 is keptbeing irradiated with the sunlight. The secondary battery temperature Tyis increased with the same characteristics as those of the solar batterypanel temperature Tx even though the increase in the temperature Ty lagsbehind that in the temperature Tx. Then, the charging is stopped at timeT0 when the secondary battery temperature Ty reaches the charging stoptemperature, and the value of the charging current becomes 0.

Since the temperature of the solar battery panel 17 is high, thesecondary battery temperature Ty is slightly increased after thecharging stopped. However, if the user moves the terminal device 10 to aplace that does not get the sunlight at appropriate time after thecharging is stopped, for example, the increase in the secondary batterytemperature Ty can be reduced.

In an example illustrated FIG. 6B, the solar irradiation of the terminaldevice 10 is stopped slightly before the secondary battery temperatureTy reaches the charging stop temperature. In that case, the secondarybattery temperature Ty also reaches the charging stop temperature due tothe high temperature of the solar battery panel 17. After that, however,the secondary battery temperature Ty is reduced in a relatively shorttime period.

Thus, according to the terminal device 10 of the above-describedembodiment, the charging performed through the solar battery is started,and the user is notified of an estimated time taken before the batterytemperature reaches the charging stop temperature through display and/orvoice. Therefore, the user stops the solar irradiation of the terminaldevice 10 based on the estimated time, which prevents the terminaldevice 10 from being held at a high temperature. Consequently, itbecomes possible to reduce deterioration of the battery and/or thecircuit components that are provided in the terminal device 10, thedeterioration occurring because the terminal device is held at a hightemperature. The above-described embodiment is particularly convenientbecause the user is notified of the time taken before the chargingperformed through the solar battery is stopped when the charging isstarted. Namely, when the user starts charging the terminal device 10and leaves the terminal device 10 at the window, for example, the usercan determine how much time the user should wait before collecting theterminal device 10 so long as the user confirms the initial notificationin beforehand.

[4. Example Modifications]

In the above-described embodiment, the illuminance sensor 25 is fixed tothe cabinet of the terminal device 10 to determine the secondary batterytemperature based on the illuminance detected through the illuminancesensor 25 and the solar battery temperature detected through the paneltemperature detection-temperature sensor 24. On the other hand, theilluminance of the sunlight with which the solar battery is irradiatedmay be estimated through a mechanism or the like other than theilluminance sensor 25.

For example, calculation processing may be performed by detecting theamount of power generated through the solar battery panel (generatedcurrents) and estimating the illuminance of the sunlight with which thesolar battery panel 17 is irradiated based on the detected generatedpower amount to calculate the time taken before the secondary batterytemperature reaches the charging stop temperature based on the estimatedilluminance and a measured temperature.

Further, for calculating the temperature at which the charging of thesecondary battery is stopped, the date and time of the calculation maybe determined to make a revision. For example, when the calculation timeis relatively near the sunset time such as 4 p.m., a decrease in theilluminance of the sunlight observed in the time period of from thecurrent time to the sunset time may be estimated and an estimated valueof an increase in the temperature may be revised downward. Conversely,when the current time is near the sunrise time such as 7 a.m., it may beestimated that the illuminance would be increased as time passesthereafter and the estimated value of the temperature increase may berevised upward. Since the time of the sunrise and/or the sunset ischanged in accordance with the date, the above-described revisionsshould be made based on the date in place of the time.

The above-described embodiment is exemplarily applied for the mobilephone-terminal device on which the solar battery panel is mounted.However, the above-described embodiment may be applied for a differentterminal on which the solar battery panel is mounted, such as a portablereproducing device to which the solar battery panel is affixed, theportable reproducing device being configured to reproduce audio/videodata.

When the above-described embodiment is applied for the mobilephone-terminal device, the shape of the mobile phone-terminal deviceillustrated in FIG. 2, which is exemplarily illustrated, may be changedso that the mobile phone-terminal device may include a cabinet having adifferent shape. For example, the mobile phone-terminal device may be aterminal device having a single cabinet on which the solar battery panelis provided in place of the two cabinets that are connected to eachother as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Further, a program arranged to perform the processing method of theabove-described embodiment may be installed in a terminal deviceattained through a related art, the terminal device being provided witha solar battery, so that the terminal device attained through therelated art can perform the same processing method as that of theabove-described embodiment. The program (software) may be downloaded tothe terminal device through radio communications or the like fordistribution.

As each of the relationships between the times taken before the chargingis stopped, the temperatures, and the illuminances that are illustratedin the table or the like has been exemplarily described, therelationship is changed due to the configuration of the terminal device,and the size of each of the solar battery panel and the secondarybattery, for example. Therefore, it should be configured that anappropriate value of the relationship can be calculated for each ofactual terminal devices.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1. A terminal device comprising: a solar battery panel; a paneltemperature-detection unit configured to detect a temperature measurednear the solar battery panel; a power generation-state determinationunit configured to detect an illuminance measured near the solar batterypanel; a battery temperature-detection unit configured to detect atemperature measured near a secondary battery charged through powergenerated through the solar battery panel; a control unit configured toestimate a change in the temperature detected through the batterytemperature-detection unit based on the temperature detected through thepanel temperature-detection unit and the illuminance obtained throughthe power generation-state determination unit, and determine a remainingtime when the estimated temperature measured near the secondary batteryreaches a temperature at which the charging of the secondary battery isstopped; and a notification unit configured to provide notificationabout the remaining time determined through the control unit.
 2. Theterminal device according to claim 1, wherein the control unitdetermines the remaining time at regular timer intervals.
 3. Theterminal device according to claim 1, wherein the control unitdetermines the remaining time by comparing the temperature detectedthrough the panel temperature-detection unit and the illuminanceobtained through the power generation-state determination unit with datastored in a table.
 4. The terminal device according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a display unit configured to display the notification of theremaining time provided by the notification unit.
 5. The terminal deviceaccording to claim 4, wherein the display unit displays notificationinformation that the charging has been stopped when the charging isstopped.
 6. The terminal device according to claim 1, furthercomprising: an audio speaker configure to output an audible indicator ofthe notification of the remaining time provided by the notificationunit.
 7. The terminal device according to claim 6, wherein the audiospeaker is configured to output an audible indicator of that thecharging has been stopped when the charging is stopped.
 8. The terminaldevice according to claim 1, wherein when the temperature measured nearthe secondary battery at which the charging of the secondary batteryneeds to be stopped is set to a value near a highest of values fallingwithin a range where the secondary battery can be safely charged.
 9. Theterminal device according to claim 1, wherein when the time taken forthe secondary battery to be fully charged is estimated to be shorterthan the time taken before the estimated temperature measured near thesecondary battery reaches a temperature at which the charging of thesecondary battery is stopped, the control unit uses the time taken forthe secondary battery to be fully charged as the remaining time.
 10. Theterminal device according to claim 1, wherein when the batterytemperature-detection unit detects that the temperature measured nearthe secondary battery is not at the temperature at which the charging ofthe secondary battery is stopped, the battery temperature-detection unittemporarily stops before taking a next measurement of the temperaturenear the secondary battery.
 11. The terminal device according to claim1, further comprising: a light-emitting diode configured to emit lightindicating when a notification is provided about the remaining time. 12.A method, implemented on a terminal device having a solar battery paneland a secondary battery that is charged through power generated throughthe solar battery panel, comprising: detecting a temperature measurednear the solar battery panel; detecting an illuminance measured near thesolar battery panel; detecting a temperature measured near the secondarybattery; estimating a change in the temperature measured near thesecondary battery based on the temperature measured near the solarbattery panel and the illuminance measured near the solar battery panel,and determining a remaining time when the estimated temperature measurednear the secondary battery reaches a temperature at which the chargingof the secondary battery is stopped; and providing a notification aboutthe remaining time.
 13. A computer readable storage medium that stores aprogram which, when executed by a terminal device having a solar batterypanel and a secondary battery that is charged through power generatedthrough the solar battery panel, causes the terminal device to perform amethod comprising: detecting a temperature measured near the solarbattery panel; detecting an illuminance measured near the solar batterypanel; detecting a temperature measured near the secondary battery;estimating a change in the temperature measured near the secondarybattery based on the temperature measured near the solar battery paneland the illuminance measured near the solar battery panel, anddetermining a remaining time when the estimated temperature measurednear the secondary battery reaches a temperature at which the chargingof the secondary battery is stopped; and providing a notification aboutthe remaining time.